Andy Burnham was today considering imposing a ban on disposable barbecues amid the risk of further wildfires as Britain braces for one of its hottest days on record.

The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra committee this afternoon as the sixth heatwave of the year builds with 33C forecast today and up to 38C tomorrow.

Mr Burnham will meet with ministers, officials and agencies and revealed on a trip to Stevenage this morning that single-use grills could be banned to help prevent fires. It comes eight days after the Government said it was not planning to introduce such a ban. 

Rail operators have warned against non-essential travel with several having already cancelled services as passengers were told to brace for major disruption.

East Midlands Railway and Chiltern Railways both told customers to ‘only travel if essential’ tomorrow; while reduced services were confirmed by c2c, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Northern, Transport for Wales and West Midlands Railway.

The Met Office has issued a rare 15-hour amber ‘extreme heat’ warning for southern and central England from 9am tomorrow – only its second such alert in four years.

The whole of England has also been put under an amber heat health alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) until Friday night, which warns of a ‘rise in deaths’.

A 38C high tomorrow would make it Britain’s joint fifth hottest day on record – tying with that same temperature in Norfolk on June 26, which is the current 2026 high.

It comes as a firefighter union chief warned Britain faces a ‘national emergency’ amid ongoing wildfires, with the country on course for its hottest summer on record.

Some 45million people across England are now in drought-stricken areas, and 27million customers are under hosepipe bans as rivers and reservoirs run low.

Parts of southern England including Hampshire and West Sussex have now gone 60 days without rainfall, and there are no downpours in the immediate forecast.

People walk across the parched grass at Primrose Hill in north London this morning

People collect bottled water at a distribution centre in Loughton, Essex, today after burst water mains left more than 10,000 homes and businesses with no water or low water pressure

Firefighters try to deal with a big blaze in Eton near Windsor in Berkshire this morning

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Allotments in Basingstoke, Hampshire, today as parts of the UK are set to bake in 38C heat

Parliament Square in London today during the drought which has hit 71 per cent of England

Crosland Heath Golf Club in Huddersfield has dry grass on the fairway and a lush putting green

Cows feed in a parched field near the village of East Meon in Hampshire this morning

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Speaking about the possible barbecue ban, Mr Burnham said: ‘There is obviously a significant problem of wildfires in the south. The New Forest fire is a great concern; we have seen them in northern areas as well as Suffolk recently.’

He added: ‘This is a message for the public as well, because the wildfires I mentioned, many of them have been created by disposable barbecues.’

Mr Burnham continued: ‘I do believe we need to get the message out loud and clear. People should not be using those barbecues outside at this moment in time.

‘I don’t know yet what the remedy is, but I do want to leave the meeting today with a loud and clear message that we do want people to take the greatest possible care when they are out in the countryside, both in terms of cigarettes, but also those temporary barbecues that we know are causing risk of fires.’

It comes after a Government spokesperson had insisted on August 4: ‘There are no plans to introduce a blanket ban on disposable barbecues.’

Most major UK supermarkets suspended sales of disposable barbecues in recent weeks, which is understood to have been in line with voluntary guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC).

Jon Pearce, the Labour MP for High Peak in Derbyshire, also wrote to retail giants last week asking them to stop selling single-use grills for the rest of the summer. He said he expected the Government to act before next summer and would continue campaigning for a ban.

Ministers from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Home Office and Department for Health will attend today’s Cobra meeting.

The Environment Agency will also be present at the discussions – the second Cobra meeting this year on heatwaves after another during similar weather in June.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the Government understood firefighters, farmers and NHS staff were all facing challenges connected to the weather.

The Government urged the public to pay attention to warnings, and advised people to drink plenty of fluids and check in on family, friends and neighbours who may be at high risk.

A No 10 spokesperson said: ‘The Prime Minister will chair a meeting of COBR – the government emergency committee – this afternoon on the UK’s ongoing response to extreme heat, wildfires and drought.

‘We know how challenging this summer is proving, particularly for firefighters tackling wildfires, farmers working in drought conditions, and NHS staff in busy A&E units.

‘We will continue to take the action needed to keep communities safe, protect water supplies and safeguard the environment.’

Met Office chief forecaster Chris Bulmer said: ‘While the peak heat will be more short-lived than recent heatwaves, temperatures widely into the mid-30s Celsius on Thursday brings the potential for impacts for some, which is why a Met Office warning has been issued.

‘High pressure is now becoming dominant and temperatures will build day by day.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in Stevenage today that single-use grills could be banned

Dry grass at Blackheath in south-east London yesterday with Canary Wharf in the distance

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The cracked and parched earth of Stew Pond at Epsom Common in Surrey yesterday

‘Southerly and south-easterly winds will also tap into the hot conditions over Europe which helps develop this further notable heat in what has been a hot and dry summer so far for many in the south of the UK.’

Meanwhile Steve Wright, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), warned the UK faces a national emergency ‘right now’ with fires across the country.

Firefighters have responded to 966 wildfires across England and Wales this year, including 185 in the first 10 days of August alone, while July was the busiest month on record for wildfires with 458 incidents, the NFCC said.

Crews from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have battled a fire in the New Forest, which started after a van caught fire on the A31 near Ringwood on Sunday.

The area hit by the blaze is protected heathland and home to a number of rare species, according to the New Forest National Park Authority.

Mr Wright told Times Radio: ‘In many parts of the country, firefighters do not have the new modern equipment to deal with these.

‘They do not have the new modern personal protective equipment, the lightweight fire kit that we wear, the right helmets, lightweight helmets, breathable uniforms to make sure they’re better protected, their health is protected when they’re out dealing with these incidents for hours and hours on end.’

The Government said it had announced £97million in new funding to upgrade national firefighting capabilities, including off-road vehicles and specialist equipment.

The Liberal Democrats and Green Party both welcomed the Cobra meeting being convened but called for further action.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: ‘What we urgently need is concrete action.

‘That must include taxing fossil fuel giants to pay for firefighting helicopters, a cool space in every community, and a maximum working temperature.’

Lib Dem environment spokesperson Pippa Heylings said: ‘Emergency meetings alone will not put out fires or protect our communities – we urgently need a national strategy to make the UK climate-ready.

‘Extreme weather warnings, widespread water shortages and wildfires raging across our countryside are a stark reminder that the climate crisis is gripping the country, yet the Government is moving at a snail’s pace, waiting until the fifth heatwave this summer to act.’

Rick Parfett, WWF’s head of climate policy, said: ‘Convening a Cobra meeting underlines that extreme heat, drought and wildfires are no longer distant risks. They are immediate threats affecting communities across the UK today.

‘As climate change drives more frequent and extreme weather, the Government must focus not only on emergency response but also on tackling their root cause. Licencing the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields would lock in future emissions that will strain our NHS, emergency services and communities even further.

‘The UK must roll out clean energy across the UK to cut bills, drive local growth, and ensure our buildings and farms are fit for future temperature rises. Nature is our best ally in tackling climate change as well as its impacts like extreme heat and flooding. That means restoring and protecting nature now, so it is more resilient to the climate extremes we know are coming.’

Nearly three quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, after a record dry July and very dry start to August has combined with high temperatures to put pressure on water resources.

Southern Water has applied for a rare non-essential use ban drought order, which, if imposed, would mean businesses must stop using water for activities such as cleaning cars and filling non-domestic swimming pools.

Met Office satellite views show the transformed landscape from May (left) to Monday (right)

In its application, the firm said an ‘exceptional’ shortage of rain in the South East ‘demonstrates a clear threat to supplies within the Hampshire Southampton West (HSW) water resource zone, as well as the Isle of Wight (IOW)’.

It added that 165,000 people in the Southampton West supply area could ‘soon be significantly affected by a restricted water supply’.

The application will now be considered by Environment Secretary Angela Eagle, with a decision expected as soon as possible.

A non-essential use ban has not been imposed for 20 years, with the last one granted to Sutton and East Surrey Water in May 2006.

Elsewhere, water stations opened in Ilford, east London, and Chigwell, Essex, after burst water mains left more than 10,000 homes and businesses with no water or low water pressure.

Thames Water said the affected areas were: E10, E11, E17, E18, E4, IG10, IG2, IG4, IG5, IG6, IG7, IG8, IG9 and RM4.

A spokesman for the utility company said: ‘Our teams continue to work in the extreme heat to fix the multiple broken pipes in the area. We’re sorry to those who are still affected.

‘Whilst progress is being made, it’s taking longer than normal to fix the broken pipes as often excavations are needing to be extended.

‘We’re still working on the repairs at both Chigwell Road and Daisy Road, and extra teams are in the area to carry on the work. We’ll be working 24/7 until things are back to normal.

‘To enable the repair, some currently not affected may notice they lose their supply for a short period. Once completed, this will mean a larger area’s water will begin to flow again.’

Record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to the deaths of more than 2,800 people, while parts of the country were hit with further heatwaves last month as England and Wales endured their driest July since records began in 1836.

A fifth heatwave of the year was declared early last week.

Provisional statistics from the Met Office show that the mean temperature for the summer so far, from June 1, stands at 16.48C – which is 1.88C above the 1991 to 2020 average.

To equal the 16.12C in 2025, the UK’s warmest summer on record, the rest of August would only need to be 0.21C below the long-term average, and any warmer than this would establish a new record for the country, the Met Office said.

And for England and Wales, which have seen temperatures more than 2C above average so far this summer, it is even more likely that June to August 2026 will be record-breaking.

The Environment Agency said 71.3 per cent of England is now experiencing ‘flash drought’, as a dry start to August followed the country’s driest July on record.

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Flash drought is one which develops very quickly because of a combination of very low rainfall and high temperatures.

East Midlands Railway said that regional services between Sheffield and Liverpool will be suspended today and tomorrow.

Regional services between Nottingham and Worksop and Nottingham and Leicester will also be suspended from noon tomorrow.

Philippa Cresswell from the operator said: ‘The hot weather means we’ll need to make some temporary changes to our services to keep the railway operating safely.

‘If you do need to travel and the journey is essential, we’d recommend travelling before midday and checking your journey before setting off.

‘We appreciate these changes may inconvenience some customers and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we work to keep people moving safely.’

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘There are heat health alerts in place again this week – this means temperatures are set to rise significantly, and people should take extra care.

‘Keep an eye on elderly relatives, neighbours and loved ones, or anyone who might really be feeling the heat, just as we would during a cold spell in winter.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued amber heat health alerts across England

A UK heatwave is official when a location records at least three consecutive days of daily maximum temperatures which meet or exceed a specified threshold – which varies by region

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‘I want to thank NHS staff who are once again stepping up to cope with the extra pressures that hot weather brings.

‘Extreme heat can be dangerous, so staying aware of warnings and alerts in place can make a real difference.’

There are also warnings older people are more at risk from the extreme heat – with Age UK’s charity director Caroline Abrahams saying that as people age, their bodies find it harder to adapt to extremes of heat and cold. 

She added that most homes in the UK were not designed to cope with extreme heat, so it is important to keep them as cool as possible.

Keeping curtains and windows closed during the hottest part of the day and opening windows overnight when temperatures fall can help.

Farmers have warned of a ‘brutal harvest’ for crops and a lack of feed for livestock, and there have been warnings of food price inflation shocks later in the year.

The Food and Drink Federation said ‘fruit, vegetable and grain supply’ are being hit by the heatwaves, with these crop shortages then set to feed into supermarket prices.

Economists from the trade group suggested that this will put upward pressure on food inflation going into 2027.

The drought has even revealed the remains of a lost village which was demolished and flooded in the 1970s to create the Rutland Water reservoir in the East Midlands.

Stonework and the outlines of buildings in Nether Hambleton can now be seen because of the low water levels.

Separately, a report warned the UK’s treasured historic green spaces are under increasing threat from climate extremes.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England warn that historic parks, gardens and cemeteries are vulnerable to damage from harsher, more widespread drought, intense rainfall, more severe storms and pests which can thrive in warmer conditions.

These impacts are said to be affecting all aspects of these heritage landscapes, from trees and plant collections to paths, terraces and lakes.

Stay away from Dunwich Heath amid ongoing fire risk, warns National Trust

The National Trust has warned people to stay away from Dunwich Heath until the area has been assessed following a devastating wildfire, amid a risk of further flare-ups.

More than 100 hectares of heathland habitat have been destroyed by fire at the Suffolk reserve since it took hold almost two weeks ago, the conservation charity said.

The fire service said on Monday that the fire has been stood down as a major incident but crews remain on scene damping down the affected area and monitoring for hotspots.

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Coastal winds are stirring up ash and debris, rabbit burrows and warrens have retained significant heat and trees with burnt root systems are vulnerable to collapse, the National Trust said.

Parts of the landscape have been left unrecognisable, making it harder to navigate, and fires spread along cliffs putting their stability at risk and making the beach below unsafe.

Russell Clement, general manager for the National Trust, praised all of Suffolk’s 35 fire stations, the 18 fire services from around the country and others who ‘worked tirelessly to tackle this fire’.

The aftermath of the wildfire at the National Trust site Dunwich Heath in Suffolk

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More than 100 hectares of heathland habitat have been destroyed by fire at the reserve

The National Trust said there are still parts of the fire ground that they have not yet been able to access to map and record hazards.

Work to assess the full site is under way and is likely to take some weeks, the charity said.

Mr Clement said: ‘Right now… the best way people can help is by staying away from the reserve.

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‘We know how important Dunwich Heath is to the local community and visitors alike, but we need to ensure it is safe before anyone returns.’

Unexploded ordnance dating back to Operation Kruschen during the Second World War has been exposed by the fire, the National Trust said.

While specialist teams have already made some discoveries safe, there could be more.

‘We very much look forward to welcoming visitors back to Dunwich Heath, when it is safe to do so,’ said Mr Clement.

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Coastal winds are stirring up ash and debris at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk

The fire has been stood down as a major incident but crews remain on scene

‘With no rain forecast and continued hot weather, there remains the risk of further flare-ups in the days and weeks ahead, which will require the fire service back on site.

‘In the meantime, Dunwich village remains open and we’d encourage people to support the local businesses, which are such an important part of the community.’

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While Dunwich Heath remains closed, supporters can follow updates through the National Trust’s website and social media channels.

A fundraising appeal launched by the National Trust to help support Dunwich Heath’s recovery has raised more than £600,000.

The National Trust is also asking people to sign a petition calling on Government to make climate resilience a national mission, invest in nature to reduce environmental risks and support Fire and Rescue Services with the funding needed to prepare and respond to wildfires.

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Six fire engines are at the scene

Firefighters are battling a significant blaze which has broken out in the sand dunes at Formby Beach this evening (August 12).

The Liverpool Echo reports that six fire engines are currently at the scene on Albert Road near the coastal beauty spot.

Crews have been tackling a gorse fire ‘measuring around 300m by 300m’ since 8pm this evening.

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Dramatic footage taken from a distance shows flames spreading across the dunes as thick black smoke rises into the sky.

In a statement, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said that the fire had grown in size after being ‘driven by wind’.

They said: “Firefighters continued to fight the fire in difficult conditions as the fire was being driven by wind and grew to 500 by 200 metres with multiple seats of fire in thick gorse bush and dunes.

“Firefighters are using beaters and extended hose reels to fight the fire and the service drone has been requested to gain situational awareness from height.

“A fire engine from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is also in attendance as part of mutual cross-border support arrangements. An MFRS off-road vehicle is in attendance to access the fire from the beach side of the incident.

“The main body of fire has now been extinguished and crews are checking for hot spots.”

One person who witnessed the fire in its early stages said: “The fire originally appeared to be burning in three or four separate areas, spaced apart from one another.

“We’re at Formby Point Caravan Park, and the park owners are here checking on what’s happening. We think the fire may now be moving away from us, but it has been blazing for hours.

“We were out only last night clearing rubbish from this whole area. Rage Against Rubbish is campaigning for greater awareness around BBQ and firework restrictions, as well as encouraging people to take their rubbish home with them.”

The shocking incident has happened in Pantside, Newbridge, where pictures show all five homes decimated

Five homes have been completely destroyed in a devastating fire in Caerphilly borough on Wednesday. The shocking incident has happened in Pantside, Newbridge, where pictures show all five homes decimated.

Firefighters remain at the scene late Wednesday evening, where 12 crews are battling the blaze with water bowsers and an aerial ladder platform.

It is believed there have been no casualties as a result of the fire which happened at five terraced bungalows at Hazelwood Road.

Crews were called to the scene just before 4pm on Wednesday and are urging people to stay away from the area and keep windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke.

A statement shared by Newbridge RFC reads: “We are absolutely heartbroken to have seen the horrendous fire earlier this evening at Pantside and the devastation caused in such a short space of time.

“We cannot begin to imagine what the people affected are going through right now and our hearts go out to everyone that has been affected by such a frightening and horrendous event, and we hope that everyone is safe and well.

“Our clubhouse will be open at 8am in the morning and we can offer hot and cold drinks along with changing and shower facilities for anyone who needs it, no need to contact us or make a booking, just drop in.

“This is our community and we are only happy to be able to offer some sort of help where we possibly can.”

A fundraising page has been set up by resident Demi Stredwick to support the relief effort. She said: “There are a number of families at Pantside who have lost everything due to a massive fire that has spread through their homes and gardens.

“As a community I am praying we can get some sort of funds together to go towards anything they might need.”

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The Prime Minister is being warned that the plans could force young people into less regulated parts of the internet.

Young Scots have called on Andy Burnham to rethink the social media ban for under-16s in the UK. More than 150 youth organisations and young people have written to the Prime Minister about the proposed ban.

Their letter warns that the plans could force young people into less regulated parts of the internet. The letter, led by the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP), has been signed by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Children in Scotland, Together (Scotland) and Forces Children Scotland, among others.

The proposals were outlined by Sir Keir Starmer in June, with the former PM saying a ban could be implemented by spring 2027. Youth groups warned that if the current Labour leader moves ahead with a ban, he should work with young people to implement the change.

SYP campaigners said young people should be allowed “meaningful participation” to share their views with politicians. The letter also asks the UK Government to commit to carrying out a children’s rights impact assessment on the proposed ban before it is introduced.

Ellie Craig, chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, said: “Young people know the risks that exist online and want safer online spaces just as much as anyone else, but legislation affecting millions of young people cannot be developed without properly listening to those who will live with its consequences.

“We are asking the Prime Minister to work with young people, not simply make decisions on our behalf. Our message is straightforward – we want safer social media, but we also want policies that are based on evidence, that respect children’s rights and genuinely make young people safer rather than unintentionally pushing them towards greater risks.”

The letter points to concerns that a similar ban in Australia may have led to children accessing less regulated online platforms.

Ms Craig said: “If the Government is determined to proceed with these proposals, then young people must have a seat at the table and not be an afterthought.

“What is happening in Australia can be avoided by consulting with the people who will be most affected.”

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A study by Australia’s University of Newcastle suggested more than 80 per cent of under-16s in the country were still using social media three months after the legislation came into force in December 2025.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We ran one of the largest consultations this government has undertaken, hearing from 116,000 people, including young people, and their views have directly shaped these policies.

“Two thirds of young people responding told us they supported a minimum age of 16 for at least some social media.

“We’re continuing to listen as we finalise details, which will be published by the end of the year. We’ll keep working with young people as we implement these changes to make the online world safer.”

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Born in Wolverhampton, Hudson-Smith said before the championships that it would “mean the world” to land gold not only home soil, but where he first began working towards his dreams.

With his achievements since those early training sessions recognised in writing on the north stand, to Hudson-Smith’s mind there could be only one possible outcome.

He did not make it easy for himself, however.

Entering the championships as the fastest European this year, the Briton admitted he “misjudged” his semi-final after fading to second place in his heat – an error which meant he had to pursue gold from the outside lane.

Unable to monitor the early progress of his rivals, Hudson-Smith went out hard and had established enough of a gap entering the home straight to reassure the home fans that all was under control.

The European record holder over 400m, and the sixth-fastest man of all time in the one-lap event, missed out on successive global titles by mere fractions of a second at both the World Championships in 2023 and Paris 2024 Olympics.

Those stunning silvers followed the toughest period of his life, but he put three years of “absolute hell” behind him to win world bronze in 2022 as he re-established himself among the world’s best.

On the European stage, there has been no shortage of golden moments – but none will come close to this emotional full-circle moment.

Gold was secured in 44.17 seconds, with Frenchman Muhammad Abdallah Kounta next to cross the line in 44.40.

Speaking on BBC TV, three-time world heptathlon champion Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill said: “What a moment. This will stay with Matthew Hudson-Smith forever.

“It means so much and the pressure was piled on him. Anything but a gold medal here for him would have been a disappointment.”

Police are treating the fire as arson

A fire broke out at a caravan park after police were called to “reports of violence”. Cambridgeshire Police were called to an incident at the Parkfield Caravan Park in Sandbank, Wisbech St Mary just after midday on Wednesday (August 12).

Officers were responding to “reports of violence”. The fire service also attended a fire at two caravans and two outbuildings.

A police spokesperson said: “A crime has been raised for arson and an investigation into the matter is ongoing.”

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue attended the fire at around 12.04pm. A fire spokesperson said: “At 12.04pm on Wednesday crews from Wisbech and Manea were called to a caravan fire on Sandbank in Wisbech St Mary.

“Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters used hose reels to extinguish a fire involving two caravans, three outbuildings and fences. Crews returned to their stations by 2.20pm.”

The East of England Ambulance Service has been contacted for more information.

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Two people have died in a military helicopter crash in central Texas, officials have confirmed.

The two were pronounced dead at the scene after police responded to an emergency call at around 13:33 local time (18:33 GMT) about the wreckage in fields south of the village of Salado.

The aircraft was an AH-64 Apache attack helicopter based at nearby Fort Hood, a major US Army base, the military said.

When officers arrived, they discovered the crash as well as a large fire that was “getting out of control very quickly”, Bell County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Cliff Coleman said.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and emergency response efforts are underway, the US Army said.

“Our immediate priority is securing the site and supporting the initial response efforts,” said Brig Gen Ethan Diven, the acting commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division.

“Our thoughts are with the crew and their families as we await further information.”

The AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine, four bladed, multi-mission attack helicopter capable of conducting armed reconnaissance, close combat, mobile strike, and vertical maneuver missions, according to the US Army.

It seats two service members – a pilot in the rear cockpit and a co-pilot gunner in the front position, the Army says.

Over 60 MPs have written to Andy Burnham calling on him to introduce an 18-week NHS dementia diagnosis target.

The health service is required to diagnose patients with cancer or heart disease within strict time frames but there is no such measure for dementia despite it claiming 76,000 lives a year as Britain’s biggest killer.

One in three people living with dementia in England do not have a formal diagnosis and the remainder waited an average of three and a half years before getting one.

Meanwhile, the time dementia patients must wait between being referred to a memory clinic by their GP and getting a diagnosis has increased by almost 70 per cent since 2019, soaring from 13 weeks to 22 weeks, according to the latest figures.

The cross-party group of MPs, which includes former secretaries of state, warn the prime minister risks sending ‘entirely the wrong signal’ if he fails to act.

The lack of a firm target means services could be cut back, with more patients left waiting months or years while their condition worsens, charities warn.

In some instances this could mean they become too far progressed to benefit from breakthrough drugs, which must be taken in the early stages of disease.

The MPs’ letter, seen by the Daily Mail, says: ‘With the possible advent of transformative drugs, a timely and accurate diagnosis is essential.

Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.

‘The forthcoming Modern Service Framework for Dementia and Frailty (MSF) is the ideal place to enshrine a universal diagnosis target to bring dementia in line with other killers like cancer and heart disease.

‘While progress has been made in reducing elective care waiting times through the Government’s commitment that 92 per cent of referral-to-treatment pathways are completed within 18 weeks, dementia remains without a comparable standard.

‘Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Michelle Dyson has warned that the MSF is ‘not going to be worth the paper it is written on’ if an 18-week diagnosis target is not included.

‘We are concerned that silence on the 18-week diagnosis target would send entirely the wrong signal and leave dementia services fragmented across the country.’

Mr Burnham has tragically told how his dad is unaware he has become prime minister because he is living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ms Dyson, formerly a senior official at the Department of Health and Social Care, warned the dementia plan will not be ‘worth the paper it is written on’ after the target was removed from a recent draft despite appearing in an earlier versions.

She said the framework was supposed to be a ten-year plan to transform care for the 1million people in the UK living with the disease but she now has ‘very little confidence’ in the document because the ambition appears to be ‘extremely low’.

Ms Dyson, who made her remarks in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail last month, also accused the NHS of treating dementia patients like ‘second-class citizens’ who are simply ‘cast aside’ and typically sent home with little more than a leaflet.

Ms Dyson, formerly a senior official at the Department of Health and Social Care, warned the dementia plan will not be ‘worth the paper it is written on’ after the target was removed from a recent draft despite appearing in an earlier versions.

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The letter to Mr Burnham was co-ordinated by Tory MP Joe Robertson, who sits on the Commons health and social care committee and is co-chair of the parliamentary all party group for dementia.

Signatories include Commons select committee chairs Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Dame Caroline Dinenage, Bob Blackman and Layla Moran plus former Secretaries of State Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Sir Andrew Mitchell, Dame Karen Bradley, and Kit Malthouse.

The Daily Mail and Alzheimer’s Society have partnered in a drive to defeat dementia.

The Defeating Dementia campaign aims to raise awareness of the disease, in an effort to increase early diagnosis, boost research and improve care.

The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged dementia has a ‘devastating impact’ on people living with the condition and on the families who care for them.

It added: ‘We want everyone affected to be able to access high-quality, personalised support.’

Vogue Williams has called out Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis for dating a 19-year-old.

The rocker, 63, has a long-documented history of dating significantly younger women, with a 33-year age gap with his current girlfriend, Eileen Kelly.

Back in 2013, he began dating Australian model Helena Vestergaard, when she was 19 years old, and he was in his early fifties.

On the latest episode of her podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, Vogue shared her disappointment towards Anthony’s dating history.

She told co-host Joanne McNally: ‘Do you know who else I find really disappointing and hasn’t broken the law – but really disappointing because I really like the Red Hot Chili Peppers – Anthony Kiedis, and he is like 54 or something and he is going out with a nineteen-year-old. 

‘And it is like “dude what are you talking about?”‘

The rocker, 63, has a long-documented history of dating significantly younger women (pictured with nineteen-year-old ex Helena Vestergaard in 2014) 

Joanne replied: ‘I’ve seen this. I just accept now that most men, all men, are drawn to, I’m going to be very careful how I say this, significantly younger women. 

‘That’s all I’m going to say. It is what it is and I don’t think there’s any getting away from it. We judge it but it’s not going to change.’

Vogue continued: ‘I would have to say that it is not all men. Because I do think that for that it is a very specific thing. 

‘Especially with things like that I just don’t understand what am I going to talk to, let’s say, a sixteen-year-old about? How was school? Did you have fun at school with your friends?

‘Did you get your new pencil case because September is coming up? Like what are you talking about?’

Joanne replied: ‘It’s not all men you are right. However, it seems to be a lot of them. 

‘And of course, people like him [Anthony Kiedis] and rockstars like him can get away with it because no nineteen-year-old girl wants to be going out with some old lad who is driving a Toyota Crayola around town. 

‘They want to be going out with a millionaire rockstar who is going to treat them like a princess and they’re going to have a gorgeous life. 

On the latest episode of her podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, Vogue shared her disappointment towards Anthony’s dating history with co-host Joanne McNally

She said: ‘Do you know who else I find really disappointing and hasn’t broken the law? … Anthony Kiedis and he is like 54 or something and he is going out with a nineteen-year-old’

‘And he’s cool because he’s in the Red Hot Chili Peppers, do you know what I mean?’

Vogue joked: ‘I do think people look at him now and think ewww.’

She continued: ‘Even Spenny [Spencer Matthews] loves the Red Hot Chili Peppers and I told him and he was like ewww.

‘It is like just because you can doesn’t mean you should. 

‘But even your mates! Imagine you are taking your significant other out to hang out with your mates and they’re like “oh, great he’s bringing his nineteen-year-old bird”. 

‘Like what the f*** are we going to talk about?’

The Daily Mail has contacted Anthony’s representatives for comment. 

When Anthony is not touring with his world-famous band, he is a devoted dad to his son, Everly Bear Kiedis, 18. 

He has said he cherishes the experiences fatherhood has given him. He shares his only child with ex-girlfriend model Heather Christie, 40.

‘I love the [daddy] club,’ Anthony said during a 2012 interview with Fuse. ‘Good God, it’s a beautiful club. Who knew? You can’t know until you go. It’s wild.’

He has been rocking out with his bandmates since 1982, and the Californication singer hasn’t slowed down since welcoming his only child.

He said: ‘I think people that have fear that, “Oh if I have a kid I won’t be able to do this and I won’t be able to do that,” he explained. ‘It’s kind of the opposite. It really gives you energy. It makes people better.’